tucker



(No Model.)

s. J. TUCKER.

step for Passenger Coaches.

No. 240,204. Patented April 12,1881.

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NPETERS PNoKO-LITHQGRAPMER. WASHINGTON. 0 C.

UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE.

SYLVESTER .J. TUCKER, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT F. WILLIAMS, OF SAME PLACE.

STEP FOR PASSENGER-COACH ES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters I atent No. 240,204, dated April 12, 188 1. Application filed February 17,1881. (No model.) I

To all whom 11. may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLVESTER J .TUoKER, of Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and Improved Additional Step for Passenger- Coaches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this speci- 1o fication, in which the figure is a side view of 'my devices, looking at the same from the end of the car-steps, and showing in dotted lines the adjustment of the devices and the extended position of the additional step.

r 5 My invention relates to an improved additional adjustable step to lessen the distance between the ground and the from step of railway passenger-coaches, the same being designed principally for the convenience of women, chil- 2o dren, and aged and infirm persons, who experience great inconvenience and even danger in mounting the higher steps now in use.

I attain the object of my invention by a very simple and practical construction, which I will 2 5 now proceed to describe in connection with the drawing.

A A A represent the steps and platform of the coaches now in use.

B is a shaft running through the entire width of steps, and. contained in suitable supports.

C is an arm turning about the shaft B as an axis, and connected at its lower end to the step rest or brace F, carrying at its lower endthe additional step H. This step is hung by links G to the frame-timbers of the step next above, so as to be capable of occupying a position close up under the last of the steps A and out of the way when the coach is in motion, or be let down, as shown in dotted lines,

to form an additional lower step for the convenience of passengers in getting on. 1 Upon the shaft B is another crank-arm, D, which isrigidly connected to the arm 0, either 4 5 by both arms being keyed to the shaft, in which case the shaft turns, or by a sleeve turning on the stationary shat This arm D is jointed to a horizontal sliding bar, E, having a handhold, K, which is designed to be pulled out by the brakeman or other attache of the train to throw the step down into position, as shown by the dotted lines. For holding the step down in this position a notch, a, in bar E is made to catch over a tooth, b, and for holding the step up or withdrawn a notch, a, is made to catch over a tooth, b. To restore the step to its withdrawn position automatically,I may use either a spring acting on crank-arm O, or a spring wound about shaft B, or a counterweight, J. I v

P is a brace pivoted to the outer edge of the end of the additional step, and having a shouldered catch at its other end, which, when the step is extended, catches over a pin, 8, on the link G, and, acting like a stop, prevents the step from going beyond the proper angle. This brace P acts also as an auxiliary to F to sustain the weight of the additional step.

To permit the additional step to be operated from the platform of the car, I extend the arm of the counterpoise past its central shaft and joint to it a vertical depressible rod or bar, Q, having eitherafoot-pedal at its top or extended to a convenient range for hand manipulation. Now, when the step is to be extended, the conductor depresses the rod with his foot and holds it until the passengers are on; and then, as soon as he removes his foot, the counterweight brings the step back, ahd a springcatch, t, enters a notch on the vertical bar and holds it againstoscillation from the movement of the train. Y I

This device may be used in connection with the bar E, or be used as a substitute for it, as the choice of the railroad-compan y maydetermine. I may also operate the additional step from the engine by steam or air cylinders, after the manner of steam or air brakes.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new is 7 o 1. The combination, with an adjustable additional step for passenger-coaches, of a countor-weight, or its equivalent, with intervening mechanism arranged, as described, to withdraw the step from its extended position.

2. The combination, with the adjustable step H, of a suspending-link and a brace exand pin 3, substantially as and. for the purpose tending under the steps, a crank connecting described. I with one end of the brace, an adjusting bar or 3 7' i 0 i i 4 lever, and a counter-weight or spring, as de- SYIVLSEDR JEFFERSON NGKDR 5 scribed. Witnesses:

3. The combination, with the step H and E. L. TRANT, link G, of the supplemental brace and stop P T. L. STONE. 

